CCIA, Incompas Urge Court to Give Dish More Time to Buy 800 MHz Spectrum

The Computer & Communications Industry Association and Incompas filed in support of Dish Network in its pursuit of extra time to buy 800 MHz spectrum from T-Mobile. T-Mobile and parent Deutsche Telekom opposed the extension (see 2308280055), which is before the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. “The Motion requests a reasonable, 10-month extension of time for DISH to exercise its right, granted by the Court, to purchase several 800 MHz Spectrum Licenses from T-Mobile,” said a brief filed Thursday. “CCIA and INCOMPAS urge the Court to grant the Motion as the best means to replace the competition lost via the T-Mobile-Sprint merger, preserve consumer choice, and encourage broad-reaching, cost-effective wireless service,” they said: “Competition in the wireless industry remains in a delicate state.” The FCC’s 2022 Communications Marketplace said “the U.S. communications marketplace is in a substantial state of change and re-examination,” citing T-Mobile’s buy of Sprint as one of “the recent major transactions that have had and will continue to have an effect on the competitive landscape,” the brief said. “As the leading advocate for competition, we believe this extension is critical to ensure consumers have more choices in the marketplace,” said Incompas President Angie Kronenberg: “We support DISH’s request and urge the court to grant the extension.”